Coventry 0-0 Watford: Hornets held by spirited Sky Blues
Coventry 0-0 Watford: Hornets miss the chance to close the gap on their automatic promotion rivals as Xisco’s side are held by spirited Sky Blues
- Watford were held to a 0-0 draw by bottom-half Coventry at St Andrew’s
- The Hornets are now without a win in their last three league fixture
- But it was the Sky Blues who had the better chances to win the game
With the Championship top two race blown wide open by Swansea’s win against Norwich on Friday, failing to beat bottom-half Coventry will put a huge blow in Watford’s promotion ambitions.
Despite two games without a win, the Hornets had the chance to go within three points of the automatic promotion spots but, after a 0-0 draw against Coventry at St Andrew’s, Xisco will be feeling frustrated again.
On another day it might have been worse for Watford, with Mark Robins’ Coventry side by far the superior team in this unpredictable and entertaining goalless draw.
Watford missed the chance to close the gap on their automatic promotion rivals on Saturday
Xisco’s side were poor as they were held to a 0-0 draw by bottom-half Coventry at St Andrew’s
The Sky Blues had the better chances to win the game but were unable to find a breakthrough
COVENTRY CITY (3-5-2): Marosi 6.5; Rose 6, Ostigard 7, Hyam 6.5; Da Costa 7 (Pask 66), Hamer 7 (Gyokeres 86), James 7.5, Allen 6.5, McCallum 6.5; O’Hare 7 (Shipley 86), Biamou 7.
Subs not used: Billson, Bapaga, Eccles, Jobello, McFadzean, Tavares.
Manager: Mark Robins 7.
WATFORD (4-4-2): Bachmann 7; Ngakia 6 (Perica 85), Troost-Ekong 5, Sierralta 5.5, Masina 6; Sarr 6.5, Cleverley 5, Chalobah 6 (Hughes 73, 6), Sema 6.5; Deeney 6, Gray 6 (Pedro 67, 6).
Subs not used: Elliot, Cathcart, Hungbo, Navarro, Wilmot, Zinckernagel.
Booked: Sierralta, Gray.
Manager: Xisco Munoz 5.
Referee: Graham Scott 6.
No coach ever sits comfortably in the Watford managerial hot-seat but, after four wins in his opening five league games, Xisco may have at least taken his coat off and started to settle in.
But with a bore draw at Millwall and defeat against QPR, both bottom-half teams, the Spanish boss might have started to feel the pressure, knowing the expectations of Watford’s trigger-happy hierarchy.
Xisco held his hands up after the QPR loss on Monday and admitted his game-plan was wrong, adding that his team lacked intensity. But if their first half at St Andrew’s could be summed up, the words ‘lacking intensity’ spring to mind.
Watford were second best and Xisco would probably have gone into the dressing room at half-time glad his side were still level.
Coventry striker Maxime Biamou had two chances where he really should have found the goal. First, the Frenchman found space in between Watford’s centre halves and shanked a left-footed shot wide.
Near the end of the half, Biamou got on the end of a delightful Julien Da Costa cross and powered his header wide when under minimal pressure.
Callum O’Hare also came close after he shirked a number of challenges with a lovely run – but his shot led to a comfortable stop for Daniel Bachmann. It summed up Coventry: the better team with no end product.
Watford were slightly better after the break but Coventry still looked dangerous on the counter-attack.
Maxime Biamou (right) had two chances where he should have found the back of the net
Dominic Hyam got on the end of a Gustavo Hamer free-kick but headed straight at Bachmann
Dominic Hyam got on the end of a whipped Gustavo Hamer free-kick on 72 minutes but headed straight at Bachmann. It really should have resulted in a goal.
Watford’s best chances of the game came on 81 minutes. First, Ismaila Sarr robbed Jamie Allen of possession in the Coventry box and fed Joao Pedro, who forced Marko Marosi into a smart save down to his left.
The Sky Blues failed to clear their lines, though, and Troy Deeney glanced a header onto the crossbar after getting on the end of a Jeremy Ngakia cross.
But that was about it for Watford. There are many games to play and many twists to come but, if this is the standard the Hornets are setting, they can kiss goodbye to their top two hopes.
As for Coventry, it will look a fine point for Robins and his team who are looking to steer clear of the relegation conversation. But it could have been much more than just a draw.
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